Walk 25 Exford to Dulverton

Walking on Exmoor and the Quantock Hills path forks keep le , then soon a erwards go through a gate with a blue- exmoorwalker.uk topped post. The path turns sharply le , descends, then rises to come to a gate into a field, with views over Exford to the le . Cross the field, go Walk 25. Exford to Dulverton via Withypool and Hawkridge. through a gate (30mins, [2]) and turn right, keeping the field edge to your right. Now go through three gates, passing a steep combe to your le ; at 13 miles, ascents of 600 metres and descents of 715 metres. 5 hours constant walk- the head of the combe (40mins) fork le towards Nethercote oppo- ing, allow 6½-7 hours. site a large tree stump in the hedgerow. Follow the bridleway across the open moor, connuing straight on at the signposted Terrain: Mainly paths and tracks, some uneven walking on rocks and over tree roots; about a mile on a narrow road. The stretch between Withypool and Tarr Steps is prone to flooding crossroads towards Withypool. a er prolonged rain, when footpaths may be closed. Check the Exmoor Naonal Park web Come to a road juncon (50mins, [3]) and go straight over, crossing site for details. a sle into a field. The route to Withypool is well-signed, but the Access: By car, park in Dulverton and take the morning bus 198 to Exford. To park in Exford detailed instrucons are as follows: Head along the le -hand (SS 854 384, near TA24 7PP) you will need to arrange transport back as there is no a ernoon bus from Dulverton to Exford. By bus, the 198 connects Exford with Dulverton and field boundary, go through a gate, connue along the Minehead twice a day except Sundays. boundary to another gate, and turn le . Go over a Map: Croydecycle 53 Exford and 56 Dulverton and Tarr Steps, or OS Explorer OL9 Exmoor. ladder sle and turn right, go through a gate, then at a second gate head diagonally le aiming for a Refreshments: In Exford, Withypool, at Tarr Steps and Hinam Farm, and a wide choice in Dulverton. Pub and seasonal tea room in Winsford for the alternave walk. signpost (not the next gate). Past the sign go over another ladder sle to see Withypool ahead to the TG7 RJ*7 BY7 `3 E07 J7 Y7 G` + _JY7 on the right. Keep to the le -hand side of the field, then high plateau known as the Chains. They go their separate ways a er two more sles descend a steep and slippery for over twenty miles before joining forces just above Exebridge, path, then some steps, to the road. Unless you a few miles beyond Dulverton. This walk follows roughly the Exe want to detour into Withypool turn le up- Valley Way, starng on the Exe at Exford before reversing the hill, then in a minute or two turn right second half of walk 23 to come to Withypool. It then tracks the on to a narrow footpath sign- Barle for nearly half its length, passing the much-visited clapper posted to Tarr Steps bridge at Tarr Steps and the remote hamlet of Hawkridge, before (1hr10mins, [4]). connuing into the aracve and well-equipped small market town of Dulverton, which is explored more fully in later walks. This path now connues alongside or above the River Barle as far as The bus stops outside the Crown Hotel in Exford. Cross the main Tarr Steps. The first part of the walk is road (the B3224) in front of the hotel and connue down the lane fairly easy strolling. Note the stepping-stones in opposite, past the school to the signposted car park. Walk past a the river, no guarantee of a dry crossing even in the wood-clad workshop and follow the path along the bank of the summer. In about 45 minutes from the road come to river. At the first juncon (7mins, [1]) turn right and go over a a T-juncon and turn right (1hr55mins, [5]). The path is now intermiently uneven with tree bridge, then keep right and almost immediately roots and rocks, and prone to flooding; in places there is a choice of route, beside the river come to a T-juncon at Court Farm. Turn le here (more difficult and likely to flood) or higher up. Cross two side-streams, then about twelve on to a bridleway signposted Room Hill, inially a minutes a er the second a footbridge crosses the river; ignore it, unless Tarr Steps have been surfaced access road. The track turns sharply right breached, when it provides a convenient link to the onward route to Hawkridge. Arriving at then le , then through a gate, before starng to Tarr Steps (2hr30mins, [6]), the pub is to the le ; the walk connues over the clapper bridge rise on to the hills above the River Exe. Where the (a simple structure with flat stones laid between low and follow the path ahead: the next gate is on the le , then keep right and go through an- piers). At the end of the bridge turn le on a narrow other gate and straight on at a path juncon. The path eventually brings you to a road at a road, which tracks alongside the River Barle; keep a small bridge over a stream. Turn right and follow the road back to Withypool. look out for vehicles. A er a steep (20%) hill, the road Longer circular walk: Exford, Tarr Steps and Winsford ( 16.6 miles, ascents and descents comes to Hawkridge Church (3hr5mins, [7]); there are of 870 metres). Follow the main walk as far as Tarr Steps, then return along the Barle to join views beyond to the Anstey ridge, partly explored in walk 27 at its 2-hour point ([6]) and head to Winsford via the Punchbowl. From Winsford, walk 17. Turn le at the church, passing a coage to pick up the return half of walk 26. If you want to miss out the return from Winsford to Exford join a broad lane (restricted byway) to Dulverton. (making for an 11.2 mile walk with 515 metres of ascent), park in Winsford and take the The final secon of the walk is shared with walk 28. morning bus to the start; there is no a ernoon bus from Winsford to Exford. The lane heads alongside a field, le through a fenced -off secon and then across another field before com- ing to a gate into woods; ignore any right turns. Go through the gate, and note a young tree on the le growing from the stump of an older one. The track now descends towards the Barle, on the le , with Danes Brook on the right. Two Iron Age forts sit on the wooded hilltops: Brewer’s Castle to the le , and Mounsey Castle ahead. Cross a stone bridge on the right (3hr40mins, [8]), and follow the track towards Dul- verton. A lile further on, a right turn detours to Hinam Farm; a helpful sign indicates wheth- Tarr Steps er the tea rooms are open. A er splashing through a stream, the walk connues ahead, parallel with the river. A er 30 minutes or so you will come to a large white house. Bear le on to a wider track just beyond it. Follow the river as far as a house on the right, at the juncon with a road (4hr20mins, [9]). Turn right here, then in three minutes or so turn le on a signposted footpath through a farm. Go through a kissing gate, then two or three minutes further on keep le at a path juncon. The path undulates, keeping roughly parallel with the river. A er a final ascent with glimpses across Dulverton, join a tarmac drive, keep le down to the road, and turn le over the bridge into the town centre. Shorter walk: Withypool to Dulverton ( 10.5 miles, ascents of 470 metres and descents of 590 metres). Although this walk is sll fairly long, it avoids the inial ascent of Room Hill. Start from the car park in Withypool (SS 844 354, TA24 7RA; arrange your own transport). Cross the bridge and walk past the tea room, post office and Royal Oak inn. Connue uphill, passing a path up steps to the le to Exford: just beyond, turn right on the path that runs alongside the River Barle, joining the main walk at the 1hr10min-point ([4]). Circular walk: Withypool and Tarr Steps ( 7.3 miles, ascents and descents of 350 metres; map opposite). Start from the car park in Withypool as above, join the main walk and follow it to Tarr Steps. Cross the river and head upwards on a surfaced track straight ahead, signposted as the Two Moors Way (M over W) towards Parsonage and Westwater Farms. Soon bear right and uphill on an enclosed bridleway. Go through a gate and follow the track right, © Stan Lester 2018-21. Last recce 1/2021. Please email [email protected] with any updates or comments. then le at the field corner. The path becomes less steep and goes through a gate. Cross the This route descripon is provided freely and in good faith. You are welcome to use, copy and distribute it for personal and non-profit purposes (aribuon—non-commercial—no derivaves). No responsibility is taken for any errors or omissions, or for your navigaon next two fields, then turn right at a signpost in front of Parsonage Farm. Go through a gate or safety on the walk.

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